Liverpool’s trip to the Stadium of Light last night might not live long in the memory for neutrals, but for Arne Slot and his players it felt absolutely huge in the context of the Champions League race.
A tight, nervy 1-0 win over an in-form Sunderland side ended the hosts’ impressive 12-game unbeaten home run and nudged the Reds to within touching distance of the top four again. Virgil van Dijk provided the decisive moment just after the hour, glancing in Mohamed Salah’s corner to secure three precious points and a much-needed response after the late heartbreak against Manchester City.
If Liverpool’s narrow victory was an example of a big club finding a way, Nottingham Forest’s evening at the City Ground showed the brutal flip side of that reality.
Sean Dyche’s side were held to a 0-0 draw at home by bottom-club Wolves, a result that extended Forest’s winless league run and left them hovering just above the relegation zone despite racking up an extraordinary 35 shots. Within hours of the final whistle, that stalemate proved to be the final straw for owner Evangelos Marinakis, with Forest confirming Dyche’s dismissal in the early hours.
Dyche becomes the third Forest head coach to lose his job this season, following Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou, as the club desperately tries to secure its Premier League status. In their official announcement, Forest said:
“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach. We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the Club and we wish them the best of luck for the future. We will be making no further comment at this time.”
Liverpool face Forest at the City Ground on the 22nd of February, and it will be interesting to see if the 17th-placed side as an interim or permanent manager in by then. Either way, the uncertainty should help play into the Reds’ hand.
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